The Continental Congress passed the Lee Resolution on July 2, 1776.
Introduced by Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee, the resolution declared that the United Colonies were free and independent states and that political ties with Great Britain should be dissolved. Congress approved this independence resolution before adopting the separate Declaration of Independence.
John Adams believed July 2 would become the celebrated anniversary because it marked the formal vote for independence. Instead, July 4 became the better-known holiday because Congress approved the Declaration’s final wording on that date and the document publicly explained the reasons for separation.
The distinction matters for America250: the 2026 celebration centers on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration’s adoption, not simply the date of the earlier resolution. The two events were closely connected but were not the same congressional action.